Bhubaneswar, October 10, 2025:The Odisha High Court has sharply criticized the state Information Commission for its mishandling of a Right to Information (RTI) case, calling its actions a “non-application of mind.” The court disposed of WP (C) No. 12399 of 2024 on October 9, 2025, and directed the Commission to re-hear the case. Additionally, the court imposed a ₹50,000 penalty on the concerned Tahsildar for lapses in handling the request.
Background:
In 2017, residents of Kuansh village, Bhadrak district, approached the Chief Secretary to bring certain illegally occupied land under government records. The Chief Secretary forwarded the request to local authorities, including the Collector and Tahsildar of Bhadrak.
In 2018, a resident, Hemanta Nayak, filed an RTI request with the Tahsildar’s office seeking information about the matter. When no information was provided, he first appealed, and then filed a second appeal with the Odisha Information Commission.
The Commission registered the appeal in SA No. 291/2019 but took more than five years to conduct a hearing. During the hearing on February 26, 2024, the Commission dismissed the appeal, claiming that information was unavailable — effectively blocking the applicant from accessing the details.
Court Observations:
- The Commission acted without proper application of mind and failed to uphold the objectives of the RTI Act.
- Its orders reflected incompetence, lack of awareness, and administrative inefficiency, undermining public trust.
- Delays in issuing orders and failure to provide information compromised citizens’ right to justice and transparency.
The High Court has now directed the Commission to re-hear the appeal and rectify its earlier lapses, while also penalizing the Tahsildar. The court’s intervention highlights ongoing concerns about the functioning and accountability of the Odisha Information Commission.
